On the term “kitten”

Over the last several months, I’ve been using the word “kitten” a lot. I primarily use it as a noun for addressing a young-ish male, or in the plural form for addressing a group of friends/familiar acquaintances. I’ve been thinking recently about what message I’m sending through this term, and whether that message is being received by others.

When I call somebody “kitten,” I’m generally communicating friendliness, and sometimes joking playfulness (as in calling an unusually tall man, or a man who doesn’t appear obviously young a “little kitten”). It’s like a warmer alternative to “dude” (which I still use all the time anyway). It can be used for a romantic interest or a platonic friend, and isn’t intended to be insulting or emasculating in any way.

Some of the ways I use the term:

• Hep cat, buddy; “What up, kitten?/What are you kittens up to tonight?”
• kid, young person; “You’re only X years old? Wow, you’re just a little kitten.”
• endearingly; “Aw, I’m sorry to hear that, kitten.”
• guy; “That dude’s one angry kitten.”

“Kitten” might be my favorite addition to my vocabulary ever.